2010 Solid start to the new year

ogbudha 01/17/2010 - 10:40 Trip Reports Potomac Roll Your Own Got out New Years Day for some feeshn.
We hooked up with a few smallies 14-17 and a near 20lb carp.
Fish were in a favorite mid river spot I hit during winter months. It doesnt look like a winter hole but for some reason the fish like it. Enough protection and right bottom composition for them I guess..so it is a winter hole. Just not what youd expect to fish for smallies in the middle of frigid temps as its only 3 ft deep.
Carp hit a small tube on 6lb test...took quite a while to get in. The lucky angler who caught it was extremely pleased w/ the fight and complained of his arm being sore.
I hooked up 3 times but only boated the 17 ( not a bad first fish of 2010)
All fish hit a heavy tube ( 1/4- 3/8 ounce and 3.5-4" w/ smelly jelly.

We threw tubes,jigs and jerkbaits.

I did have a few bumps on the jerkbait, but I think I was just running across the backs of carp.

Thursday we took a road trip in an attempt to find ice free water. 4 hrs south to the James and we were greeted wih ice and snow. Floated/rowed the raft through some decent rapids and hamered known wintering holes for some sleeping piglets. Water temps were 33.5 at the start an 36 by days end. We did not boat a a single fish but did have 3 or 4 solid "true" bites. This float has produced some real pigs in the winter ( 5 lb 10 ounnce smallie) but not this time. Going back in the jet in 3 weeks or so.

not bad at all

space inwaders 01/22/2010 - 20:53 good work just getting out there Ben, must have felt good to get that 17 incher on the line.

I've been thinking about heading a little south to fish as well, better luck next time.

I've been out three times in the new year. Last time in high water was tues 19, river was about 10' high where i was. I checked out a cheater warm water spot, it had a nice calm area despite high water.

i found one calm area with a smoother hard bottom so i could jig real slow and pause for longer periods. The first bite really surprised me, ended up with about 12 goggle eyes. they had no color at all. still fun to get out and get bit.

i also tried a float with a jig, and seems like the closest thing to vertical jigging from shore.

keep em comming.
-

where to put in

mdela 02/02/2010 - 07:41 Im new to the site and have a question. Where would you suggest putting in to fish for walleyes this time of year?

Thanks
Mdela

Well...

Steve826 01/18/2010 - 21:57 I don't even have my license yet, so you guys all have me beat there :)

Good work Ben. A 17 in smallie is a great way to start the year.

Steve

James River Wishing

REB9 01/18/2010 - 21:43 Nice report sir Ben! I gotta give you credit. Your searching for smallies, when I head to the hardwater and fish for panfish. Good on ya! My tally this year is zero smallies, one greenie, a dozen or so sunny's, 1 crappie and a partridge in a pear tree!

CU on the water.

Capt- Keep at it. Hope to fish with a fellow marine this year.

REB9

Well done!

Captwalleye 01/18/2010 - 06:08 Your quite a ways ahead of me.I've only been out once and that was Friday afternoon.I pushed the issue and was soundly displeased by the conditons of the two ringers I wanted to fish.The first was still frozen over completely and the second had an ice lip that almost covered it entirely too.I could see where the far side shallowed up just a few feet past the ice edge.
I packed it out of there and headed to another spot.It was fishable and I tried a float n fly and SJB to no avail.The wind was blowing alot harder than predicted and the river level still too high to to fall back on the secondary area of that spot.
I went,I fished,but came up with zilch.Oh! The score is river "1",and Capt "0".I attempted to fish a swim bait (why? because it just happened to still be on my line from last time out)on the second cast it was confiscated.
Eighteen days into a new year,and I'm fishless.Got to do something about that,and will.